Mumbai: Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has offered a revealing insight into the demanding yet effective leadership style of Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Having played under Gambhir previously for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and now with the national squad, Chakravarthy is well-acquainted with his methods, which were instrumental in his return to international cricket last year.
According to the 34-year-old spinner, Gambhir brings a “Spartan mentality” to the team. “This means there’s absolutely no room for losing or showing any form of mediocrity on the field,” Chakravarthy stated during the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday.
He elaborated, “I’ve already experienced his leadership in the IPL, and we won that season, so his approach isn’t entirely new to me. However, the standout aspect of his presence is the ‘Spartan mentality.’ It’s about giving your absolute best and everything you have on the ground. The outcome is secondary, but while you’re playing, mediocrity simply isn’t an option. That’s the strong message he conveys.”
Several T20 specialists, including Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have previously highlighted the immense confidence and belief that the coaching and captaincy duo of Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav have instilled in them, which has directly contributed to their success. Chakravarthy, too, acknowledges being a beneficiary of this philosophy, where players capable of winning matches for India are given unwavering trust.
He expressed his gratitude: “When I made my comeback, both Surya and GG (Gautam Gambhir) spoke to me, emphasizing that they saw me as a crucial wicket-taking option for the Indian team. They’ve supported me unconditionally throughout, and I owe them a lot of credit for that.”
(Image Caption: Varun Chakravarthy of India celebrates with teammates after dismissing Fakhar Zaman during the Asia Cup Final match between India and Pakistan in Dubai.)
Since his return to the international arena last year, Varun has been in stellar form, consistently taking wickets. He played a pivotal role in India’s victories in the ICC Champions Trophy (February-March, nine wickets at an average of 15.11 in three matches) and the Asia Cup (seven wickets in six matches at 20.42), both held in the UAE. Chakravarthy’s role, he revealed, is crystal clear: to be an attacking bowler and scalp wickets.
“My primary role is to take wickets, constantly attacking the stumps and nothing else. I embrace the tougher challenges, whether it’s bowling during the powerplay, a crucial over at the death, or two overs in the middle phases. That’s the responsibility they’ve assigned me, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” he explained.
When asked about the secret behind his effectiveness in the UAE during both white-ball tournaments, Varun elaborated, “The pitches in Dubai were particularly helpful for me; they tended to be on the slower side. This suited my bowling style. Beyond that, my strategy was straightforward: relentlessly attack the stumps and encourage batsmen to play aggressive shots, creating opportunities for wickets. That was the core plan.”
(Image Caption: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – SEPTEMBER 21: Varun Chakravarthy of India bowls during the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan.)
For a bowler known for his repertoire of off-spins, leg-breaks, and occasional straighter deliveries, the label “mystery bowler” is often applied. Chakravarthy addressed this, stating with a smile, “I’ve never actually called myself a mystery bowler; it’s a term the media has used. But if people want to call me that, I don’t mind. The key is my ability to deliver all these variations with the same grip and release point, making it genuinely challenging for batsmen to pick me.”
His strategy for bowling in the death overs is equally uncomplicated: avoid bowling to the batsman’s strengths. “Essentially, in the death overs, I focus on the batsman, identify their strengths, and then try to bowl away from those areas. That’s the fundamental principle I adhere to,” he shared.
Chakravarthy’s spin partnership with Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav proved to be highly successful for India. Kuldeep emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the T20 tournament with 17 scalps at an impressive average of 9.29, with both bowlers complementing each other brilliantly.
(Image Caption: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – SEPTEMBER 10: Varun Chakravarthy of India bowls during the Asia Cup match between India and United Arab Emirates.)
“Kuldeep is one of our most seasoned and accomplished bowlers, and he’s been phenomenal. Our partnership works well because I bowl at around 95 km/h, while he operates closer to 85 km/h. He generates more turn, and I focus on speed and bounce. So far, it’s been a very effective combination, and we hope to carry this momentum into the World Cup,” Varun added.
He also recalled Team India’s composure during Pakistan’s strong start in the Asia Cup final. “If you observed the pattern, teams often got off to explosive starts in the first eight overs. After that, scoring became significantly tougher. We knew that even if we picked up a couple of wickets, we could dramatically shift the momentum, and that’s precisely what happened,” he recounted.
The spinner concluded by highlighting India’s evolving T20 strategy, which increasingly prioritizes specialists. “In T20 Internationals, India has been opting for more specialist bowlers and batters compared to other teams. The concept of all-format players might not have the same prominence in T20 cricket anymore, with most teams now relying on highly specialized players,” he remarked.